A few days ago we told you that the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra started rolling out, at least in some parts of the world. This has now been confirmed by Sony itself, as the company took to its official blog to discuss the latest regarding software updates for its devices.

The rollout for the Z Ultra will now go global. The Xperia Z1 and the Xperia Z1 Compact are also going to be receiving the KitKat update starting today. This has been a long time coming, especially for the Z1 and Z Ultra, with many rumors pointing to different release time frames for the new software. Alas, things are finally moving now. Though, as always, do keep in mind that these rollouts are staggered, and as such it may take days or even weeks for the updates to reach your particular device. Furthermore, if you bought yours from a carrier, the situation could be even worse, as that company has to test and approve the update too before it rolls out to you.

Aside from the OS upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat, the new bits will also bring with them a tweaked status bar and Quick Settings area (both said to be more intuitive and customizable), new boot-up animation and live wallpaper for both the home screen and the lock screen, brand new Xperia Themes to customize your interface, and updated Sony apps all-round: Messaging, MyXperia, Smart Connect, Small apps, TrackID, TrackID TV, Sony Select, Smart Social Camera, Walkman, as well as Album and Movies. Xperia Themes let you skin up to 280 different assets on your smartphone with a variety of styles, and offer a comprehensive customization package that was previously only available in custom ROMs.

These three may be the first Sony devices to receive the KitKat update, but they won’t be the last. Next on the list are the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, and Xperia ZR. All of these will get their Android 4.4 bits in mid-Q2, which probably means in May.

All in all, it’s good to see Sony extend its KitKat updates to midrange handsets, but the company really needs to start pushing out updates faster. KitKat is already more than four months old, and this summer Google may announce its successor already.